Julia Roberts' Half Sister Found Dead In Bathtub, Believed To Have Committed Suicide

The death of Nancy Motes, the half-sister of Julia Roberts, is being treated as a suspected suicide according to the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

The 37 year-old was found dead yesterday with the Lieutenant Fred Corral confirming that her body was discovered at a residence in a bathroom, by the LA Fire Department at 2:12pm. He told Us Weekly: "Not sure whose residence it was. She was found in a bathtub that had water in it. We're taking it as a suicide, not a drowning."

"She's being examined today. We are waiting for the doctor to provide his findings," Corral reportedly continued. "There were prescription and non-prescription drugs found at the scene. Cannot tell you what those drugs were. The role the drugs may or may not have played is not yet known."

"The investigator at the scene listed at this point that he is going with suicide and we are waiting for the doctor to finish the examination. We haven't gotten anything yet."

A statement from the family released yesterday claimed they were "devastated" by the loss. They said: "It is with deep sadness that the family of Nancy Motes...confirms that she was found dead in Los Angeles yesterday of an apparent drug overdose.

"The family is both shocked and devastated."

Nancy as the half-sister of actors Julia and Eric Roberts, as well as the aunt of rising star Emma Roberts. She's believed to have had a strained relationship with her famous siblings though.

Speaking to the New York Daily News just a few months before her death Nancy said: "I think we're both trying to change our opinions of each other. It's not going to be fixed overnight."

"My family, we love each other absolutely," she added. "I love Julia absolutely, and I have no doubt she loves me."